Community members can report a potential threat to iWatchTexas via an app, online or over the phone. The resource launched last year, shortly after the shooting at Santa Fe High School.
Department of Public Safety
Posted in
New Texas Laws 2019
Lines to get driver’s licenses are long. Texans are skeptical more money will help.
In hopes to provide quicker service, over 90 of DPS’ 229 offices — including every mega center and “severely crowded” office — will become fully staffed, while another 100 will receive smaller personnel boosts.
Posted in
New Texas Laws 2019
Texas’ Driver Responsibility Program ends next month. Here’s what that means for you.
More than 600,000 Texans will immediately be eligible to have their driver’s licenses reinstated after the program’s Sept. 1 repeal. The system was widely criticized for adding additional annual fees on top of the price of tickets, but all pending surcharges will soon be waived.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Dallas’ sudden spike in homicides has officials perplexed. And not everyone agrees that state troopers are helping.
After May’s 40 homicides, Gov. Greg Abbott deployed state troopers to Dallas. Despite some drops in violent crimes, city officials say they’ve done more harm than good. Meanwhile, there’s still no consensus on what’s driving the increase as victims’ families are left to grapple with grief.
Posted in
El Paso shooting
Here’s everything you need to know about Texas gun laws
A debate over gun control was reignited after a gunman killed 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso. Here’s a rundown of Texas’ gun laws.
Posted in
El Paso shooting
Horror in El Paso: 20 dead, 26 wounded in mass shooting at Walmart
Police say the suspect is a white male in his 20s from the Dallas area who was arrested without incident. Police are investigating whether it was a hate crime.
Posted in
Marijuana in Texas
Texas DPS officers told not to arrest in low-level marijuana cases after new hemp law
A memo obtained by The Texas Tribune instructs DPS officers to cite and release suspects in misdemeanor marijuana cases “as appropriate.” Officials said the goal is to continue enforcement even though some prosecutors aren’t taking new pot cases.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas DPS intelligence and counterterrorism chief fired after arrest on sexual assault charge
John Jones was arrested Tuesday in Travis County. He is accused of raping a woman at a party July 20.
Posted inState Government
Gov. Greg Abbott deploys DPS to combat Dallas violent crime spike
The city had 40 homicides last month, the highest monthly total since the 1990s.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmakers hope an additional $200 million will decrease dreaded wait times at driver’s license centers
The money will be used to hire more employees, give a raise to current staffers and open two new driver’s license offices in Angleton and Denton. The Department of Public Safety’s management of the offices has drawn criticism, but lawmakers stopped short of moving those duties to another agency.
